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Post by Admiral Striker General on Nov 27, 2011 7:03:12 GMT -5

Officials are working around the clock in the continued investigations of the tragic events which took place yesterday evening.

For those just joining our broadcast, two bombs were detonated on Saturday, November 26 in the Central Capital: one in the Commercial District just off from the Grand Emporium and the other in the Old Clock Tower.

At least one hundred are confirmed dead with hundreds of others moderately to critically injured. Rescue workers are still searching the debris, but thus far few survivors have been found.

Several small businesses were demolished by the wreckage and dozens of others sustained serious damage. The Grand Eran Emporium has announced an expected recovery time of approximately three weeks.

The Clock Tower lies in ruins, a skeleton of its former self.

But things could have been much worse. A recently discovered third bomb was set to go off in the sewer systems beneath the central part of the city. However, the bomb was absorbed by a wild Muk whose poison apparently corroded the device to a point of disuse. A trainer only hours ago captured the Pokemon by chance and discovered the slowly-decaying bomb lodged within it. Unfortunately the discovery came far too late to warn the rest of the city. The Muk is being hailed as a hero, and the mayor is set to give a ceremony later this week its honor.

All over Era, every station seems to be constantly airing some variation upon these facts.

Though not all admit it, most are baffled by (if grateful for) the fact that these attacks took place on Saturday, considering that the death toll would have been exponentially higher had the Commercial District been attacked on the immediately preceding Friday due to the national sales event. Some want to believe that whoever is responsible didn't want any more blood than there was, and as such may be hesitant in other attacks, but others are less hopeful, believing it was no more than an oversight. While a few perceive this as incompetence, many fear they will not make the same mistake twice.

Currently, forces behind the attacks remain unconfirmed, but each source seems to have its own opinions, and few of them openly announce that no one is sure versus noting that "some believe" a particular group is responsible.

Many conservative, noblity-supporting stations and papers are blaming Rebel forces. They have a history with destruction and violent scare tactics, and such an act of terrorism is right up their alley. They urge the nobility to stay strong and be on their guard.

Meanwhile, liberals, many but not all of Rebel mindset, suspect it to be one of the violent gangs roaming the capital, placing indirect blame upon the nobility who "should have dealt with these gangs long ago". They cry out that the current government has proven through its inaction that it is no longer fit, demanding that nobles take action in response or step down.

Still there are a few others with their own theories. Several tabloids and even one or two fairly reputable papers floating around have already picked up the conspiracy that nobles are actually behind the act, setting this up in order to make the people cry for their help, thus improving their image in the eyes of the populace when a small fraction of their excessive wealth is 'generously' donated to relief efforts.

People throughout Era are mixed between uproar and mourning- generally a bit of both. If anything yet has urged citizens to take a side, this is it.

The seeds of war planted with the coup have grown cold for over two years with only the occasional minor, secluded uprising to mark otherwise, but the war is cold no longer.

True battle has begun once more, and people are no longer likely to take so kindly to those content to sit idly by with apathy for the plights of their countrymen.

It's time to take a stand.

.....But which one?

All threads in the effected areas started before today should still proceed uninterrupted, as well as Riku's Red Light Sale benefit since- as stated in the topic for that- it's treated as taking place "Friday", before all this happened. The current bid war and any other un-updated buying threads are uneffected, as are any previous roleplays.

In fact, don't RP having been right there when shit went down (unless you're looking to kill off a character IC and want to use it for that). If you're in other areas of the capital and want to incorporate the event (HOSHIT what was that!?), that would be all right, but it's far from encouraged or anything.

Threads in either area started today or later should include the changes. That is, unless you're doing a major flashback thread (not "a few months ago", but "looking at something from years ago for big plot/character-fleshing purposes" (which I don't think anyone's actually done yet with anything else but eh *shrug*), if you didn't ever explore the clock tower before, you'll never be able to. From here on, it is the Clock Tower Ruins. Any threads started just immediately should (and any that want to do a slightly past-set thread for it later I guess can) include some carnage around the site; after about a week you can start exploring it as just-ruins. (Really it should probably be longer but I think this is mean enough, heh..)

The Commercial District, meanwhile, should also include mass carnage for the first few days and slowly-decreasing amounts of debris for the next few weeks. (It should be cleaned up before Christmas, because really, who wouldn't work extra hard to try to make the streets look hopeful for the holidays?)

Meanwhile, somewhere in a small, secluded building, somewhere underground out in the Eran wilderness, two lackeys take a lashing. In the background, a TV is in the middle of airing the first breaking news reports of the explosions only minutes after the incidents.

"IMBECILES!" their leader's voice thunders, accented by the crack of a whip- not the first this evening- across their backs. Yes, two lackeys take both forms of lashing.

"We didn't-" the first tries to counter, but he is answered by a lash across the face. His scream pierces through the whole of the building.

"Were my orders not explicitly clear." It is not particularly a question. The leader of this little group looms over them. To the audience, no details of this leader- not even gender- are readily apparent. All we can see is how clearly horrified his or her lackeys appear to be of his or her very presence.

The second lackey, a young woman, tries to bow even lower, but she is already on the ground. "Y-..yes master."

The whip cracks again, but this time only at the air for effect- an announcement of sorts that this phase of the punishment has ended. The leader sets it aside, then glides over to kneel in front of the female lackey. "Then why...-" the voice has dropped to a near-whisper; a hand dips down, lifting her face from the floor- "were we a day late?" Somehow, the light smile on her leaders face terrifies the lacking more than the earlier look of rage.

"I-... we..." She cannot find words. They already reported in the middle of their journey to the capital that they had run into several things which delayed them. The leader already knows the answer to the question, but the lackey does not know what answer is currently desired.

The leader turns to the male, who is still groaning and holding his bleeding face. "And why... were their only two explosions?" The smile has faded, but the nerve-wrackingly calm overtones remain, just almost completely concealing the rage all know is erupting beneath.

The man continues his groaning at first, unable to answer, but soon his eyes narrow on a glistening blade his leader pulls, and strength suddenly finds him. "We ah-- we did plant it!" he hurriedly rasps.

"We did!" chimes the woman nervously. "Perhaps er- the timing got a bit off. The first two were a few minutes apart."

"Right!" agrees the man. "Maybe the third's about to go too??"

"I-I'm sure it is!"

"Mmmm..." The leader's eyes set on the woman. Suddenly, the blade is at her neck, slowly pressing until it begins to break the skin. It is then pulled across for good measure; the woman does her best to stifle her shriek at the pain of the long if shallow cut. "For your sake.." The leader holds the knife vertically before his/her face then slowly licks the few drops of blood from it before faking a smile. "Let's hope it does."

The smile falls instantly as the leader arises, seemingly done with them for now. The woman lets out the breath she'd been holding and gasps and pants briefly as she grabs at her neck. The leader heads towards the door, pausing to glance down at the man in passing. "Shame about your face." In context, it is roughly equate to an apology. "Our associates and I do so like our people to look good to the public." (S)he shrugs and sighs lightly. "But I suppose it might heal well enough in time."

Indeed, both lackeys are covered in bodily scars and scabs from more recent wounds, though their faces prior to the one's wound just now were untarnished. Neither had any clue what they were getting into when they took this job, but the pay is fantastic and being in the know allows them to keep their own families safe from whatever carnage this group and their so-called associates wrought, so they deal with it. Also, at this point they'd probably be killed outright for leaving; at least staying there's only a chance of death. Punishment that severe is quite rare, at least, though they wouldn't be the very first.

Of course, just who these 'associates' are remains absolutely unclear- at times even to the lackeys.

The leader moves on, pausing once more with a hand on the doorknob, though this time (s)he does not look back to them. "Don't go anywhere," comes a last warning, and then their punisher is gone, leaving the young newlyweds to tend to each other's wounds.

In other somewhat-related news, you guys know the Western Duke position has been open for some time, and Riptide Castle is by now all but abandoned. I imagine a few most-loyal servants stick around tending the place and hoping for Lady Marcella to return, but most have probably left.

So you know what? Holding a 'contest' for it is kind of stupid in retrospect.

Have at it guys.

The way I see it, you've got two main choices if any of your chars (most likely but not necessarily nobles I guess) want it. Either declare you're taking over and then defend that title by force until people respect it; or go and try to find other nobles to convince of your eligibility, form a support system, and then declare you're taking over and defend it from whoever would challenge by violent or nonviolent means with the help of your supporters.

Please report to Jay and/or SG when you do something to that effect and we'll be monitoring it along the way (but not directly coordinating anything for the most part). Get a strong enough position and it should just become a matter of convincing the remaining servants that the castle is yours (or wiping them out and just taking it). At any rate, whoever takes the most powerful lead in that will eventually be given the title officially (if more like commonlaw than anything). So have fun with that.

Post by Admiral Striker General on Nov 28, 2011 0:53:33 GMT -5

Welcome back to our continued coverage of the tragic events which continue to tear at the heart of our nation.

At least 25 more are confirmed dead with no word at this time how many previous survivors may have succumbed to their injuries.

But there is some good news! In response to the events, the Pokemon Shelter and Exchange has opened its halls to all those whose homes were affected, and a few generous donors have taken steps to ensure all refugees can be housed and fed free of charge until such times as their homes can be repaired. Of course, as always, the Capital's few remaining Pokemon Centers are also leaving its doors open.

(Note that "housed and fed" means "here's a blanket; find a spot on the floor with everyone else" and "this should be enough to sustain you if not much else". But hey. Beggars can't be choosers, right?)

Post by Admiral Striker General on Dec 16, 2011 17:11:01 GMT -5

In the midst of all this chaos, it's always a joy to be able to bring some good news, especially around the holidays. While clean-up continues, especially around the fallen clock tower, most of the debris has been cleared away in the commercial district, and recovery efforts have been going slowly but smoothly.

Earlier this afternoon, the Grand Eran Emporium reopened its doors to customers just in time for holiday shopping, and expects to have a shipment of 'very special' Pokemon in some time within the week, one manager says.

Conditions for refugees are also improving, as the Pokemon Shelter has received a number of donations from noble or otherwise wealthy families, allowing for greater accommodations.

For anyone still at the Shelter, refugees are now divided up with anywhere between five and thirty in rooms of varying sizes, which have been cleared of usual storage or Pokemon but may have some active or inactive equipment. It's still not great, but it's a little more peaceful and private with a small group than all of the refugees ever and their friends and family always in and out and yeah. Most occupants have been given small cots, and workers are doing their best to get in more to finish that up. Food has also improved a little, from bread and nutrient bars and mystery soup to modest but filling homemade meals on par with hospital food, occasional cheap fast food, and slightly tastier mystery soup.